Watch: Two 3s in final 3.8 seconds by Ryan Conner lifts LACES past Chatsworth in stunning LA City semifinal
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA — It's hard to figure what was more unlikely. The comeback, the two shots or the game's hero.
Whatever the case, LACES pulled out an improbable 52-49 Los Angeles City Section Open Division semifinal win over Chatsworth Saturday at el Camino College.
Ryan Conner, a 6-foot-8 senior center who had been struggling most of the game, swished two 3-pointers all inside four seconds to play to give the Unicorns the victory.
Conner drilled a 3-pointer from well past the top of the key to tie the game at 49-49 with 3.8 seconds left, then after Chatsworth threw a long pass straight out of bounds, Conner swished a 3-pointer from the corner.
Chatsworth, the fifth seed, missed a desperation half-courter and LACES, which stands for Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, advanced to the finals to face King/Drew, a 62-56 winner over Birmingham next Saturday at 6 p.m. at Pasadena City College. Neither LACES or King/Drew have won an LAC Open championship.
Conner had just four points before the two makes to finish with 10. Donovan Cornelius led the Unicorns (19-10) with 16 points and Ian Hunter added 14 points, including four 3-pointers (three in the first quarter). LACES hit nine 3 pointers overall.
Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA standout Gilbert and one of the top sophomore recruits in the country, had 19 points for Chatsworth (16-14). Teammate T.J. Phillips hit two 3s in the fourth when they were outscored 16-10.
GIRLS SEMIFINALS
Westchester 66, Hamilton 58: Mariah Blake had 23 points and 16 rebounds and Serenity Johnson contributed 14 points leading the Comets (22-5), who have won 12 of 13. They split two previous games with Hamilton (24-7), which bot 20 points by Jade Fort.
Birmingham 49, King's Drew 44: Zoee Mitchell had 15 points and Natalie Lopez contribued 13 lead top-seeded Birmingham (23-6) to victory. The Patriots will face Westchester for the title at Pasadena City College next Saturday.
